The Daring Book for Girls - Andrea J. Buchanan [114]
BASIC
The basic handclapping pattern involves two people standing facing one another. The clapping begins with each person bringing up her right hand, palm facing out, and clapping hands with the other person, then clapping her own hands together, then bringing up the left hand and clapping the other person’s left hand, then clapping her own hands together. Repeat this pattern until the rhyme is done. (You can also begin with clapping your own hands, then clapping right hands together, etc.)
CROSS-ARMS
Begin with arms crossed against the chest, uncross your arms and clap your hands on your upper thighs, clap your hands together, clap right hands with your partner, clap your hands together, clap left hands with your partner, clap your hands together, clap right hands with your partner—then back to arms crossed and repeat from the beginning. Repeat until the rhyme is done.
UP-DOWN
Begin facing each other, both players with right hands up, palms facing down, and left hands down, palms facing up. Bring your right hands down and left hands up, clapping together; then switch so your left hands are up, palms facing down, and your right hands are down, palms facing up. Bring your left hands down and right hands up, clapping together. Then clap palms together straight on, then clap your own hands together. Repeat from the beginning until the rhyme is done. (Another variation is to clap as instructed, then after clapping your own hands, clap right hands together, clap your own hands, clap left hands together, clap your own hands, then start from the very beginning.)
BACK-FRONT DOUBLE CLAP
Begin by clapping right hands with your partner, clap your hands together, clap left hands together, clap your hands together TWICE, clap backs of hands with your partner, then palms of hands with your partner, then clap your hands together—then back to the beginning. Repeat until the rhyme is done.
Here are five favorites.
DOWN BY THE BANKS
(This rhyme uses the basic handclap pattern, beginning with partners clapping right hands together. This game can also be played as an elimination-style game in a group. Everyone stands in a circle with each girl’s right hand on top of the left hand of the girl on her right. Going clockwise, each girl slaps the hand of the girl to her left. At the end of the rhyme, if it is your turn and you manage to hit the next girl’s hand before she pulls it away, she is out—but if you miss, you are out. When there are only two people left, the game reverts to the twoperson basic pattern.)
Down by the banks of hanky panky where the bullfrogs jump from bank to banky
with a hip hop, shimmy-shimmy pop the bank was too far and they went ker-plop!
THREE SAILORS
(This rhyme uses the basic handclap pattern, beginning with a clap, then partners clapping right hands together.)
Three sailors went to sea, sea, sea [point to your eye for each “see” or “sea”] To see what they could see, see, see, But all that they could see, see, see, Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea
Other versions, in four verses:
The “I love you” version:
1. Three sailors went to I, I, I, to see what they could I, I, I…etc.
[point to yourself for each “I, I, I”]
2. Three sailors went to love, love, love to see what they could love, love, love…etc.
[cross your arms against your chest for each “love, love, love”]
3. Three sailors went to you, you, you to see what they could you, you, you…etc.
[point to your partner for each “you, you, you”]
4. Three sailors went to I LOVE YOU To see what they could I LOVE YOU But all that they could I LOVE YOU Was the bottom of the deep blue I LOVE YOU
[perform all three signs for each “I LOVE YOU”]
The “Disneyland” version:
1. Three sailors went to diz, diz, diz to see what they could diz, diz, diz…etc.
[twirl your finger around your ear for each “diz, diz, diz”]
2. Three sailors went to knee, knee, knee to see what they could knee, knee, knee…etc.
[touch your knee